Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive
of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at thejewishnews.com
82 Years of Ads for
Your Jewish News
M
arch 27 will mark the
beginning of the 83rd year
for the Detroit Jewish News.
This is no small feat when, over the
past two decades, thousands of daily
and weekly local newspapers have
ceased to exist.
We are still publishing your news-
paper every week. And, I did say
“your” newspaper. The JN is indeed
your community paper,
which we continual-
ly strive to upgrade,
improve, revise and
innovate, to bring
you important news
of and for Detroit’s
and Michigan’s Jewish
communities. This is
nothing new for us
— it’s been our mission since the JN
debuted on March 27, 1942.
Since October 2020, the JN has been
published by the Detroit Jewish News
Foundation as a nonprofit journal. In
short, we rely upon subscription and
donations in order to bring you the
news of Jewish Detroit and Michigan.
At the risk of shilling for my place of
employment — actually, I guess I’m
deliberately shilling for the JN! — I
found some really cool old adver-
tisements for the JN in the William
Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish
Detroit History. (The other part of the
DJN Foundation is the Archive.)
An early ad summed up the essence
of the JN, which still holds true. The
JN is “… of the Jewish People ….
for the Jewish People and … by the
Jewish People (March 22, 1946).
Another ad from the Jan. 22, 1965,
issue really focused upon what the JN
brings to your family: “Whee - Take
a Look at This Newspaper … It has
Everything!” This was reinforced
again in 1979: “The Jewish News Has
Something for Everybody” (Dec. 21,
1979). In 2024, we still have some-
thing for everybody, from stories
about local Jewish people and events,
news from across America and Israel,
and over the years, lots of content for
children.
BTW
, look for the new children’s
section by Efraim Harari in this week’s
issue.
Perhaps the JN ad from July 17,
1998, offers the best overview:
“Looking for the Perfect Gift? Candy
… is Eaten (and fattening, too). The
Jewish News is fat-free.
” It goes on to
say that “The Jewish News is a gift that
helps you celebrate all year. Holidays,
engagements, births and anniversaries
… It’s the paper celebrating the people
you know and care about” (July 17,
1998). Now this is accurate reporting!
Notice the “perfect gift” statement
above (hint, hint). We do believe
giving a subscription as a gift to one’s
children or grandchildren (or oneself)
continues a long tradition of Jewish
Detroiters reading the JN.
One of the most effective ads was
a small one: “There’s Hidden Money
in Your Closet” (Aug. 1, 1986). When
this ad promoting the selling of used
goods via JN listings debuted, then
publisher Arthur Horwitz received a
phone call from a concerned reader
seeking assistance: “I’m in my closet
now. Where’s the money?”
Well, the JN will not promise you
will find cash in your closet, but we
do pledge to deliver the goods to
your door every week, in paper and
online at thejewishnews.com. And,
we will archive every page of the JN
that includes your history.
The JN is your newspaper, and
we never forget that. We sincerely
thank you for subscribing and for all
your support.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN
archives, available for free at
thejewishnews.com.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair
94 | MARCH 28 • 2024
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